A virtual laboratory course as an interactive Internet-based learning program

The paper presents an Internet-based learning program that is used in the preparation of a laboratory course in electrical engineering at the University of Saarland, Germany. In the Laboratory course, students work with a two-tank-system to learn about different controlling concepts. The system is built of industrial components. The learning program is written in HTML and Javascript and uses different media such as photos, graphics, virtual reality, and videos, to introduce students tb the real two-tank-system. Java-based simulations are embedded and enable students to solve exercises virtually, which are to be done in the real experiment. These simulations are extended by a tutorial component which acts as a teacher who is looking over the student's shoulder. For a given exercise, this component can provide situation-specific help for the students. It superintends the students' actions and gives hints if students act in a way that does not lead to the solution of the given exercise. The paper describes the aims of the learning program, its structure and the Internet-technologies used to realise it. Experiences with the learning program are presented and conclusions for the use of similar learning programs are made.